To ask the Minister of Education to outline what financial support, for costs related to increased employer National Insurance contributions, is being provided by his Department for those Community and Voluntary and Social Enterprise organisations delivering services to meet his priorities

Unfortunately, given the resource pressures my Department is facing in 2025-26, and the inadequate level of additional funding being provided to address the increased national insurance costs, I am unable at this time to provide any additional support to assist those Community and Voluntary and Social Enterprise organisations delivering services on behalf of my Department.

My Department currently estimates that it is facing c£300m of inescapable pressures for 2025-26. When other high priority and desirable pressures are included Education’s budget shortfall increases to c£360m.

The estimated cost to my Department and its arms-length bodies of the National Insurance changes which took effect in April 2025 substantially exceed the additional funding the Department of Finance is proposing to allocate to meet this pressure for 2025-26.

I will continue to make the case to both the Northern Ireland Executive and to HM Treasury that Education in Northern Ireland remains underfunded, and I will continue to seek additional funding via monitoring rounds during 2025-26.